Ottoman home front mobilization and propaganda during the Balkan wars of 1912-1913

Abstract

This thesis is an analysis of the Ottoman wartime propaganda for the home front during the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 based on the activities of the National Defense League and Ottoman/Turkish periodicals. In particular, I discuss the speeches of the Women’s Committee of the National Defense League; belles-lettres published in periodicals; and lastly, reports on the war crimes of the Balkan allies in Tanin. The Ottoman Army had many deficiencies during the wars and power politics of the Great Powers were not favoring the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, the intermittent support of Britain to the Ottoman Empire had ended, which added to its isolation. Under such conditions, the Ottomans employed propaganda on a large scale to ensure the participation of every individual in the war effort. The Ottoman propagandists employed modern propaganda techniques effectively. They manipulated established values while attempting to spread new ideas that they wanted society to assimilate. In line with this, nationalist ideas, and patriotic and religious discourse are prominent in the texts under analysis.